For Parents
Parents Recognize Unmatched Growth in Their Students
Dahn Tamir, CEO, Opensend and parent of two alums, on why his kids keep coming back:
"She’s never been challenged like this before... She was already an over-achiever and you have changed her life trajectory... You are leading the revolution!”
-Nithya Ramanathan, CEO, Nexleaf Analytics and alum parent
“You lit something in my son... Our kids have to learn these skills in the new workforce, and they don’t learn them in school... That’s why we keep coming back.”
-Vince Bahk, SVP at FIS and parent of 2x Futures Forge alum
“Futures Forge became an excellent forum for discovery, realization and practice for collaboration, leadership, adaptability, failure and recovery. When Connor came back, he was seriously fired up about the experience and the engagement with others. His experiences are translatable and applicable in educational pursuits, in the workforce, on organized teams and in everyday life. He now observes with a new perception that will benefit him in the present and future.”
-Chris C, alum parent
"Elijah had a great time at the Futures Forge program. He enjoyed tackling each of the challenges as part of a team. He learned a lot through the evaluations and feedback. He has improved with presentation skills. Even my adult friends mentioned that they have seen a difference in the way he converses with them, speaking clearly and making good eye contact. ... And he did laundry on his own for the first time!"
- Amy W, alum parent
The Learning Experience
Each day at Futures Forge is packed with intense, hands-on learning, feedback, and coaching. Our students attack challenges that build leadership skills, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities—while developing inner motivation and confidence.
We use an approach we call Catalytic Learning. This is our science-backed pedagogy to rapidly develop skills and dramatically increase the rate and depth of learning. Catalytic Learning is informed by a hundred years of research in educational psychology, organizational studies, and practical experience in high-performance settings.
Fundamentally, Futures Forge shifts the accountability for their choices onto the students, while providing a more aggressive scope of work than they have ever encountered. This transition to genuine responsibility allows them to realize a level of competence that adult supervision had previously masked.
Scaffolding Towards College and Adulthood
The residential component of the Skills for Success program in Boston serves as a low-stakes "simulation" for the high-stakes transition to college life. As our students are housed in College dorms, they experience navigating the logistical and interpersonal complexities of shared living, such as managing roommate dynamics, well before their first freshman semester. In this environment, students move from the "parent-managed" structure of home to a "self-managed" independence where they must balance intense daytime challenges with the freedom of Boston’s social landscape. Our students build a social "muscle memory." They learn to find their tribe, set personal boundaries, and exercise autonomy in a world-class "college town" atmosphere.
This experience is a vital addition to college preparation because it decouples the social "shock" of moving away from home from the academic "shock" of university-level coursework. Most students try to learn how to live independently, share a room, and navigate a new city simultaneously with their first difficult college courses. By scaffolding these social and residential skills in a 14-day intensive, Futures Forge ensures that when students actually arrive at college, the "living" part is already second nature. This allows them to focus their energy on leadership and academic performance from day one.
A Day in the Life At Futures Forge
Every evening, students enjoy a period of downtime with plenty of ways to spend it. Some explore the University campus or make a Trader Joes run for snacks. Others might catch up on rest, play an instrument, or connect with family. Meanwhile, the common room comes alive with movie nights, lively board games, and the smell of popcorn. And for those dedicated to growth, it's a chance to digest feedback and strategize for the next Challenge.
The middle Sunday features two dedicated "Fun Blocks," where students take the lead in organizing their own activities. Students form groups, develop detailed excursion plans, and then present their proposals to their peers. To gain approval, they must ‘sell’ their idea to enough students to make it viable and find a Facilitator willing to sponsor the trip. Once approved, a Facilitator accompanies the group. Previous Fun Block excursions have included tours of Harvard and MIT, attending a Red Sox game at Fenway Park, walking the historic Freedom Trail, and shopping along Newbury Street.
Futures Forge focuses on encouraging socializing and building friendships among students by grouping teams with a mix of strengths and weaknesses. This allows students to coach and learn from each other in a high-feedback environment, fostering trust and bonding. Additionally, room assignments are with different students than their teams, further mixing the students.
Hear From Vladimir & Family About Skills for Success
“We're so grateful that Erik and Nat invited Vladimir to Futures Forge. He's truly transformed. He gained valuable communication skills and a new understanding of teamwork and education. I’ve noticed a newfound confidence and calmness in him, and I really appreciate your supportive approach.
Thank you for helping young people unlock their potential and view education in a new light.”
-Natalia (S4S Parent)
"Thank you once again for providing us students with skills that aren't taught anywhere else: teamwork, organization, motivation and even finding purpose in life. Futures Forge has allowed me to break out of my shell of introversion and insecurity and become a completely new person, a motivated, confident leader with hope for the future."
-Vladimir, S4S 2024 and S4S2 2025 Student
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Safety
As a 2-week residential summer course for ages 16-18: Futures Forge recognizes that younger students may be living away from home for the first time, and need greater structure, guidance, and protection from our team.
First, every student must read the Code of Conduct. We will remove students who show disregard for the safety of themselves or others at Futures Forge.
All students are housed in Dorms reserved only for youth programs. As such they are held to the highest standards of security and there is a uniformed security assistant present at the only entrance to the building 24/7. Only students and staff resident in the Dorm are allowed access to the residential areas and access is controlled via individual key cards issued to each resident.
All Futures Forge students will be housed in multiple occupancy rooms with an en suite bathroom. All rooms will be single sex occupancy. The Facilitators’ rooms are in the same Dorm to allow for appropriate chaperoning of the students.
All students will be required to check in with their Facilitators in the Dorm by 9.50pm every night and periodically throughout the day. After check in, students are not permitted to leave the Dorm until the next morning.
We create a structured yet flexible environment that balances independence with guidance. We encourage them to push their limits, explore new interests, and build confidence—all within a safe, supportive space. Our staff are all trained to keep teenagers safe, and medical staff are always available nearby.
Health
Our facilitators are trained in both first aid and mental health first aid. This dual training ensures that they are equipped to handle a wide range of situations, from minor injuries to emotional or psychological support, with competence and care. Facilitators are on-site and available 24/7. Our residences (Universities) partner with us to provide 24/7 physical and mental/emotional health escalation paths. Our partner organizations, such as the NSHSS, help us remain up to date with, and in compliance with, nationally-recognized standards.
Our students eat all their meals in College Dining Halls. They are very accustomed to safely feeding students with a wide range of allergies and preferences. Futures Forge is always happy to facilitate accepted students and their families in discussing dietary needs with the catering team.
Questions about health and safety can be sent to safety@futuresforge.org.
